MAKE Projects Farm and Gardens Manager San Diego, CA · Full time

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Farm and Gardens Manager  

Job Description 

MAKE Projects is an employment social enterprise that operates a job readiness program using a farm-to-table café business model. MAKE, which stands for Merging Agriculture Kitchens and Employment, is currently accepting applications for the Farm and Gardens Manager position.  

As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, our mission is to provide individuals with employment and language barriers with job readiness skills, coaching and confidence to succeed in their post-MAKE jobs into living-wage career pathways. Our program participants are an integral part of the MAKE Farm and MAKE Café team to deliver high-quality products and customer service in our CSA, fieldtrip, café and catering business lines.   

Who You Are: 

You are an excellent vegetable farmer who is experienced in organic, diversified urban agriculture in a commercial setting. You know what, when and how to grow optimal flavor. You have professional experience planning, managing, growing and harvesting organic vegetables at-scale for premium customers. You are well-versed in all areas of organic, diversified vegetable production from seeding, transplanting to pest identification to disease and risk mitigation. And most importantly, you can apply all this knowledge to increase both the productivity and profitability of MAKE Farm.  

You enjoy teaching and connecting with others. You are down-to-earth, personable and able to engage with people from all walks of life. From our participant training program for English language learners, to our field trips and day camp for children, and to our CSA customers and donors – you can be warm and kind in how you relate to others visiting the farm and learning in our gardens. You can balance your business mind with a generous heart and open mind in seeing our farm and gardens as an educational platform for workforce development, nature education and community connections.  

You can juggle multiple competing priorities, projects, and goals at the same time. You are a seasoned professional. This position must plan, manage and execute on the continual production and maintenance of our farm and garden spaces. You must be committed to the big picture of MAKE Projects’ organizational vision of being a high-impact employment social enterprise for refugee and immigrant communities in San Diego. This is not a traditional farmer job, nor is it a traditional nonprofit job. Social enterprise work is both twice as hard (and twice the work) as any one job - but also twice as fulfilling! To succeed at MAKE, you must be able to balance positive social outcomes with strong financial results.  

What You’ll Do: 

The Farm and Gardens Manager (FGM) reports to the Executive Director (ED). The FGM oversees the day-to-day operations of MAKE Farm’s vegetable CSA business, as well as the overall maintenance and repair of the farm. The FGM supervises trainees while at the Farm by creating a professional work experience with an equal eye towards participant impact and financial profitability. The FGM must provide positive, constructive coaching and performance management to trainees working on the farm. The FGM is responsible for attaining job readiness proficiency in their first month at MAKE. 

Additionally, the FGM must manage and cultivate MAKE’s teaching gardens in partnership with the Education Programs Manager. The FGM will support the EPM on class field trips and day camp programming as a teacher. The Education Program Manager will provide 20% of their time in farm production support with direct on-site activities and provide backfill coverage to the FGM. 

The FGM will update on-farm safety and business operations; undertake new garden projects, and reinforce MAKE’s organizational procedures/culture. While the FPM will be responsible for bottom-lining the farm business unit’s financial profitability, they will collaborate closely with the management team in all aspects of accounting, marketing/communications and events management to ensure successful execution of the farm business strategy to reach our organization’s sustainability goals. 

Qualifications:  

• Experience: five (5) years of experience in professional, commercial agriculture or vegetable production, preferred  
• Education: Bachelor's degree preferred 
• Excellent social and communication skills, including verbal and written skills  
• Must have a valid drivers license and willingness to drive  
• Must be able to lift 20 pounds and stand for long periods of time  

Work Environment:  

• Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, roughly 8:00am-4:00pm (can shift earlier in summer)   
• This position is responsible for all farm and garden operations at our SDSU Mission Valley (90%) and Normal Heights (10%) locations   
• This position primarily works outdoors on-site (85%) with approximately 15% in office time for planning, curriculum, coordinating and administrative work 
• Other project management work and team meetings are typically conducted at our Felton Street location in Normal Heights  

Compensation and Benefits: 

This is a full-time, hourly position at $30 per hour with health benefits, paid time off, and paid sick leave. MAKE Projects also offers a matching 401k retirement plan after six months of employment. Join our vibrant and dynamic team dedicated to making change through social enterprise! www.sdmake.org  

MAKE Projects is an equal opportunity employer. MAKE Projects does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, marital status, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability. Any offer of employment is contingent upon the satisfactory results of reference and background checks.